Police Chief: ‘Back To School’ Traffic Safety

With the start of school, we should all expect an increase in vehicle and pedestrian traffic. As both school buses and parents drop children off and pick them up at school, it is never more important for drivers to slow down and pay attention whenever children are present—especially before and after school. Please follow these tips to ensure back to school traffic safety.

1. Don’t be a distracted driver

Put your cell phone down and never text while driving. Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a driver’s attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and pedestrian safety. These types of distractions include:

• Adjusting a radio
• Eating and drinking
• Grooming
• Reading, including maps
• Talking to passengers
• Texting
• Using a cell phone
• Using a navigation system
• Watching a video

2. Observe speed limits, including lower speed limits in school zones

Slow down near all schools and stay focused on the road and aware of changing traffic patterns and changing speed limits-especially in school zones. 

3. Wear seat belts & use child safety seats

Seat belts and child safety seats save lives and help prevent injuries. Always buckle-up and make sure children are in the proper safety or booster seat. If you need your child safety seat inspected to ensure it is installed correctly contact our Department at 203-594-3555.

4. Plan and allow for extra travel time

With more cars on the road, children near the road, and new school travel routines, the potential for a traffic crash increases. Be patient, slow down and allow for extra travel time.

5. Follow best practices when dropping your child off at school

All New Canaan Schools have very specific drop-off and pick-up procedures during the school year. Make sure you know them for the safety of all children. According to the National Safe Routes to School program more children are hit by cars near schools than at any other location.

The following apply to all school drop-off zones:

• Carefully follow the directions of school personnel.
• Carpool to reduce the number of vehicles at the school.
• Don’t double park; it blocks visibility for other children and vehicles.
• Don’t load or unload children across the street from the school.

6. Sharing the road with school buses

If you’re driving behind a school bus, allow a greater following distance than if you were driving behind a car. It will give you more time to stop once the yellow lights start flashing. It is illegal to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children and remember these safety tips:

• Be alert; children often are unpredictable, and they tend to ignore hazards and take risks.
• If the buses’ red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, you must stop.
• Never pass a bus from behind or from either direction if you’re on an undivided road.
• Slow down whenever you see a school bus.
• The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus.

7. Student pedestrian safety
Walk on sidewalks and in crosswalks whenever possible. It is important to pay attention to walk signals and keep a safe distance when standing on street corners. As a pedestrian, you are at a major disadvantage when crossing streets, intersections and standing on corners. You are not always visible to drivers. Here are some tips that can keep you safe.

Parents Should:

• Conduct a walkability checklist of your child’s route to school. Go to www.nhtsa.gov to find the walkability checklist. 
• Teach your children the right-of-way rules and safe pedestrian behaviors.  

Student Pedestrians Should:

• Avoid walking in bad weather such as snow, ice, rain or fog. 
• Be predictable. Follow the rules of the road, cross at crosswalks or intersections, and obey signs and signals.
• Cross only at street corners, preferably those with a traffic light and within marked crosswalks. 
• Don’t text or talk on your cell phone when walking.
• Look left, right, and left again before crossing the street. 
• Make eye contact with drivers as they approach. Never assume a driver sees you.
• Pay attention to “Walk/Don’t Walk” signals. 
• Walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible if there is no sidewalk.
• Wear bright clothing.

Drivers Should:

• Be cautious when backing up – pedestrians, especially young children, can move across your path. 
• Look out for pedestrians, especially near schools.
• Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or entering a crosswalk. 
• Slow down near schools and especially in designated school zones.
• Stop at the crosswalk stop line to give drivers in other lanes an opportunity to see and yield to the pedestrians.

Let’s all work together on making the start of this school year as safe as possible. Be better informed, connected, and send anonymous tips to our Department by downloading the “MYPD” application in the iPhone or Android marketplace. After downloading the application search for “New Canaan” and get connected. 

For traffic complaints or requests for enforcement please send an e-mail to: trafficsafety@newcanaanct.gov

Follow us on Twitter@newcanaanpolice for safety tips and alerts.

Additional Resources & Sources:

www.aaa.com

http://www.cdc.gov

http://www.nsc.org

http://www.sharetheroadsafely.org/pedestrians/pedestrianSafety.asp